Brickmaking machine



June 9, 1925. 1,541,429

K. G. MCMILLAN BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filed May 31 1924 2 Shets-Sheet 1 [Z1 MM %7/0/7 June 9.1925.

1,541,429 K. G. M =MILLAN BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filed, May 51 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM-1 3M l/IAJJIM Q IZ WI \\\\\\\ll//// A Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES anna rarer Fries.

' BR-IGKMAKING MACHINE.

Application filed May 31,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that KENNETH Gr. MOMILLAN, citizen of the United. States of'Amerioa, residing at Milledgeville, in the county of. Baldwin and State of Georgia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in l-hickmaking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in brick making machines of the type including a cutter and an endless measuring belt both of whichare actuated by the traveling movement of a clay bar delivered to the belt from a suitable bar forming and feeding mechanism. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of novel means for printing the manufacturers name or trade mark or other advertising matter on the bar during traveling movement of the bar on the belt, the printing means being suitably located intermediate the cutter and the bar forming and feeding mechanism.

The principal purpose of the invention is to insure uniform placement of the printed matter on the bar for all speeds of production and for any length of brick for which the cutter is regulated. According to the invention, this purpose is accomplished by causing the printing means to operate at a rate of speed exactly equal to the traveling speed of the bar and by adjusting the printing means with reference to the length of brick for which the cutter is regulated at the commencement of operation.

Other purposes, characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of brick making machine equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the printing member shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the printing member.

The brick making machine shown in Fig. 1 is of the conventional type wherein the cutter 5 and the endless measuring belt 6 are both actuated by the traveling movement of a clay bar 7 which is delivered to the belt through the spout 8 of the usual 1924. Serial No. 717,075.

bar forming and feeding mechanism, not shown. The belt 1s, of course, driven by dlrect engagement with the clay bar, but the cutter 5 is geared to the belt in a well known manner so that the operating speed of the cutter may be regulated with reference to the traveling speed of the bar to produce bricks of the desired length.

As herein shown, the printing means constituting the present invention embodies a rotary printing member consisting essentially of a horizontally disposed carrier or disk 9 and a series ofspaced circumferentially arranged printing plates 10 secured to the disk in the. following manner: Each printing plate is curved or segmental in shape and is secured to the outer curved surface of-a correspondingly shaped holder segment 11. The several holder segments 11 are provided with supporting shanks 12 slidably mounted in spaced grooves 13 formed in the upper face of the disk 9 and extending radially from the central portion to the periphery of the disk. These shanks 12 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly in their respective grooves and are held in adjusted position through the medium of suitable fastening bolts 14 passing thru the disk and thru slots 14 of the shanks, said bolts being. equippedtat the threaded end with clamping nuts 15. Obviously, by adjusting the shanks 12 inwardly or outwardly, as stated, the total circumference of the printing member is varied as well as-the spaces intervening between individual printing plates. 'The printing plates may be of any desired construction but are preferably composed of brass and have the letters or other advertising matter raised on the outer surface thereof. In securing the printing plates to the holders 11, it is preferred to use detachable screws 16 so that the plates may be readily moved when necessary. The

disk 9 is fixed to the upper end of a verti cally disposed shaft 17 positioned at one side of the belt 6 intermediate the cutter 5 and the delivery spout 8. At its lower end shaft 17 is equipped with a bevelled gear 18 meshing with a corresponding gear 19 carried by a cross shaft 20. A sprocket & wheel 21, fixed to the cross shaft 20, is connected by chain 22 to a sprocket wheel 23 carried by a shaft 25 which preferably forms.

part of the drive connection between the measuring belt 6 and the cutter 5. However, in lieu of this particular arrangement of gears and sprockets any other suitable form of. drive connectlon may be used be tween the cutter and the shaftv 17, the

only essential requirement being that the printing member shall operate at a rate of ipeeg equal to the traveling speed of. the clay As shown to advantage in Fig. 2, shaft. 17 is journaled vertically in a bracket arm 2651 rising from a base plate 2-? while the shaft 20 is journaled at one end in a suitablebearing QS-carried by the said base plate and at the opposite end in a second bearing 2.9.- formed integral with a. bracket arm 26. The, assembly shown in. Fig. 2 can and is intended to be manufactured separately as an attachment to be applied to standard types of brick making machines of the type shown in Fig. 1. In certain types of brick making machines, however, the clay bar 7 instead of being supported on edge, as shown in the present drawings, is delivered to the endless measuring belt so as to lie flat on its side face and in connection with this type of machine it will of course be necessary to; dispose the shaft 17 in a horizontal, instead of a. vertical position, but

there is no changein the principle of operation.

In practice, the printing plates 10 are adjusted radially of the disk 9 so that.- the total circumference of the printing member is exactly equal to the length of. the clay bar representing, the combined length of bricks equalling in number the number of printing members pro ided on the disk. By reason of this adjustment, and the fact that the printing member is driven to rotate at a. rate of speed; exactly equal to the traveling speed of the clay bar, uniform placement of the printed matter on the. bricks is insured. For example, assuming that, as herein shown, the printing member is equipped with four printing plates and that the combined length of four bricks to be cut from the bar 7 is 34: then, at the commencement of operation, the printing plates will be. adjusted radially of the disk 9.- so that the. total circumference of the printing member will be 3% or exactly the combined length of the four bricks. As the speed at which the cutter and belt operate is controlled by the traveling movement of the clay bar any variation in the speed of the latter will cause a corresponding variation of the speed in the printing means which, as previously stated, is geared to the cutter so as to travel at the same rate of speed as the bar.

lZVhilev the invention as herein disclosed is applied to a brick making. machine, it is obvious that the same is capable of Wider application and may be used With equal facility in connection with the manufacture of tile, clay bars and all other clay products produced by what is known as the end-cut process.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim and desire to cover by Letters. Patent is:

In a brick printing machine, the combination; of a travelling clay bar from which the bricks are adapted to be out, a printing member comprising av rotary carrier and a plurality of circumferentially arranged printing plates, the circumference of the printing member being predetermined to exactly equal the length of the bar necessary to produce bricks equal in number to the number of printing plates on the carrier and said plates being adjustable relatively to one. another to vary the circun ference of the printing member to compensatev for variation in the length of bricks cut from the bar and means for utilizing the travelling movement of the bar to drive said printing member at a rate of speed equal to the speed travel of the bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto! afiiX my signature.

KENNETH e. McMILLAN. 

